FAST in MENA - July 2023
Discover the FAST platforms & channels in Middle East & North Africa
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to the 61st edition of The Streaming Lab, a weekly newsletter exploring the trends that matter to streaming professionals. If you are not already a subscriber, sign up and join 1,600+ others who receive it directly in their inbox every Monday.
Today’s program
Welcome to the 7th FAST in MENA update of the year. And I’m sorry to tell you, but we lost many channels this month.
What’s New in MENA?
The FAST Channels in MENA - July 2023
Examples of FAST Channels Programming in the U.S.
And… Action!
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What’s new in MENA?
I’m now tracking the AVOD streaming service Awaan in my monthly FAST review, as the platform of Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) finally serves Ads on most of their channels.
The platform offers today 15 channels for free:
Dubai TV
Sama Dubai
Dubai Racing
Dubai Sports 1
Dubai One
Dubai Zaman
Noor Dubai TV
Dubai Sports 2
Dubai Sports 3
Dubai Racing 2
Dubai Racing 3
Some of them come from the streaming service Weyyak:
Weyyak Nawaem
Weyyak Action
Weyyak Drama
Weyyak Mix
I would not be surprised if Awaan starts adding FAST channels from third-party providers very soon.
One more news this month: The UAE pure player Dreamax changed its business model from AVOD/FAST to SVOD.
The Fast Channels in MENA - July 2023
Here’s the updated number of FAST channels available on MENA local services in July 2023. As a reminder, I consider a FAST channel any streaming linear programming available for free to consumers, with commercials.
My main observations:
Shahid
Shahid removed 7 channels from its FAST portfolio this month. 4 of them were dedicated to regional content: Bollywood, Turki, Levant and Korean.
They also launched 6 new channels this month:
Huda Hussein: A journey through the career of iconic Iraqi-Kuwaiti actress.
Al Leaba: Join the world of Mazu and Wasim, the duo known for their endless pranks.
Asli Wa Hasry: A collection of originals, mixing classics and new releases.
Kharabesh: Arabic talk shows, thought-provoking discussions on social issues, and a diverse lineup of content creators.
Crime+: Grab your detective hat and get ready to crack some cases that would make even Sherlock Holmes proud.
Istishara Maa Sar: An educational go-to for parents to help them make the right decisions about their children’s education and wellbeing, hosted by Dr. Sarah Al Abdulkarim.
It’s also the first time since the beginning of the year that I see a negative balance of new vs. dropped channels for Shahid.
Roya TV
Roya TV is now the second local FAST platform in MENA with a total of 26 channels. Here are the newest channels available:
I removed Jalta and Haret Alqoba as they are now only available for Roya TV Plus subscribers.
Rotana
The streaming service of Rotana (rotana.net) removed Rotana kids from its FAST portfolio and now offers 7 channels for free.
Do you need more details about the FAST channels available in MENA? What happened since the beginning of the year? What are the Single-IP channels? What are the most represented genres? I track everything. Just ask me, or have a look at my recent analysis of Shahid.
Examples of FAST Channels Programming in the U.S.
I’ve been analyzing the programming of several FAST channels in the US for the past 4 weeks. You can download below the full PDF documents:
Pluto TV Action on Pluto TV
Top Gear UK on Samsung TV+
Pluto TV Sports on Pluto TV
Fail Army on Pluto TV
That’s all for today, the state of FAST in MENA in July 2023. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues!
I hope everyone has a great week. Until next Monday, enjoy Fantasia 2000 on Disney+: A modern update of the classic with new music and animation. Because I’m just feeling nostalgic today ;)
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merci pour Fantasia 2000 c’est superbe 🤩